Habit is an extremely important element for both my natural garden and my spiritual garden. I was in the habit of heading outside as soon as I got home from work to spend some time watering, weeding, pruning or enjoying the new growth but after a bout of winter woes, which drove me to bed for a few days, I found myself quickly and easily out of the habit. The same happened to my spiritual routine. I like to go to bed early, listen to one of my favourite speakers for a half hour or so and then read my bible. Sickness, holidays, visitors all challenge what I call my one healthy habit. I am always amazed at how quickly a bad habit sets in and how long it takes to break and how long it takes to establish a good habit and how easily it can be broken. Nevertheless, I realise how important it is for me to start and maintain good habits. I know my garden would look mightily sad if I didn't regularly attend it and I also know how I make it harder for myself when I don't look after my spiritual garden. I love Jesus and know that to get closer to Him requires my attention and I can do that best by setting a routine, not out of a religious practice, but a heart felt desire to pursue Him.God blessAnnie

As I drive to work each day, I take note of the gardens as I pass, and I must say that they are as diverse and assorted as people.

There is one garden which has hedges and small shrubs lined in perfect symmetry and every bush is clipped with a precise evenness. There is another garden that looks like a mysterious overgrown sanctuary of secret pathways and shady intimate havens.

I want to stop and admire the blooms in the country cottage yard, the one with the gorgeous roses that fill their space with colour and a sweet perfume. I want to sit amidst the garden with the tall gums that provide shelter and a nature fuelled harmony of birds and cicadas.

I love them all and as I think about them, I realise it is my chance to see people from God’s perspective. We are all varied and unique and most importantly we are all as interesting as each other to God.

I may never be the manicured estate with every blade cut at the perfect length and I may never produce the Jacaranda’s superb purple displays, but I am what I am and I am just as beautiful and fascinating as the person next to me.

If I want to be something or someone else, then I am denying the very who God made me and the world would miss out on what I have to offer. I wouldn’t want every garden that I go past to be the same and I think God agrees. I am a one of a kind; just like my garden and that is a good thing.

Despite the cold and overcast weather, some of my plants are still flowering. It is like they are making a statement, saying that regardless of this cloudy weather, they are going to blossom anyway. It really is a Christian attitude, putting your best face forward, irrespective of what is happening around you.

The trouble is, it is not one that comes naturally to some of us mere mortals. Unlike my garden bloomers, I begin to wilt when circumstances are frosty or harsh. I like it when it’s warm, sunny and things are going my way.

I must say however, I find it quite amazing how different people react to circumstances which are not to their liking; when they are not getting what they want. I have seen adults throw tantrums that any two year old would be proud of. As for me, I can’t really see the point in outrageous outbursts, and expending all that energy that could be invested in more productive tasks, such as - well, weeding!

Though it is the true test of character to still flower regardless, and it is one that I am pressing towards. Jesus was the best example and I will endeavour to follow in His footsteps, and along the way I will take heart as I trek to the mailbox in my fur boots and scarf, looking at the flowers on my Geraldton Wax; if the plants can do it so can I.

My garden is a combined effort between God and I; I plant, fertilise and water and He grows. I like the progressive amalgamation, but there are times when I don’t quite keep up my end of the process, like when life gets a little busy. That is when my poor plants have to wait for attention, such as this week.

Now in any partnership there is give and take, and God knows all about giving. I must say I am pretty good at taking and despite how bad that sounds, I think God loves a cheerful taker as well as a cheerful giver, all in balance.

Anyway to get to the point, I haven’t watered my garden (only my pots) and today the heavens opened and rained down a beautiful shower, which was better than any hose spray I could have delivered. I live in a dry area, so this was truly a blessing.

It made me stop and remember, yet again, how good God is. I do my best and when my best is not good enough, His grace goes the rest of the way, it abounds in my lack. That is where I find peace, knowing that it really isn’t about me, what I can or can’t do, where I fall short or even when I have a victory. It is all about resting in Jesus, knowing He has my back, He loves me and as my husband says, ‘everything is going to be okay,’ and it is.

I fret and worry about things but I shouldn’t, when God is for me, who can be against me. That thought always makes me smile and so does the rain as it continues to fall. Praise the Lord.

I have this week seen little more than my laptop and my pillow. A very unwelcome virus decided to take up residence (in my body, not my laptop) and two things have occurred from this unfortunate event. One, my lovely garden was all but forgotten and two, my spiritual garden was also not top priority as I coughed and sneezed, needing soup and other necessities.

I looked at some potted plants that were sadly drooping and clearly saw my lack of attention. Now, one could think they should be forgiven for such neglect, due to the circumstances, however from every action or non action there is a consequence.

The consequence this time is hardship, stress and a season of recouping from the ordeal, and I have to say that my natural garden and my spiritual garden will have to go through this process. While a dead plant or two is unfortunate, it is not tragic, but neglecting my spiritual garden is. The Word encourages me not to neglect so great a salvation and when trouble rushes in that’s what happens. I must admit now my eyes have stopped watering, it will be easier to read the Word, but I can’t help believing that if I had pressed in and held that little bit tighter to God’s promises, ‘only believe’, I would not have had to endure the sickness.

That is what fighting the good fight of faith is all about I guess, and I won’t give up, but soldier on towards the prize that awaits me thanks to Jesus. In the meantime as I take up my bible and refuel, I will also take up my watering can and try to rejuvenate my flagging flora.

I have often wondered why certain plants thrive and grow well, when others become limp and eventually succumb to the heap of no return (the compost). I planted a row of Chinese Lanterns along my rather dilapidated back fence last autumn (probably not the best time to plant I know) and lovingly tended them with water, fertiliser and prayers, then watched as some grew and others didn’t.

Surveying my labour, some ever helpful co-gardeners explained to me, after I had planted them, that under trees was probably not the best position for them. (Always the advice after I plant?) I thought about myself as I pulled up the latest Chinese Lantern fatality, and realised I have been planted in some pretty unattractive spaces myself.

I have worked in offices where malicious gossip was called - networking, a harsh judgment - coaching and a cruel remark - feedback. Now as a Christian, one knows that one should not get caught up in such, but like whirlwinds they try to drag you in.

Throughout all the causalities from the eye gouging, ambitious clawing, and ‘if you don’t love me you’re sacked’ positions, I endured. How you ask? Just like one of my Chinese Lanterns, the stronger the plant, the better chance of it surviving and growing to its full potential.

I became a strong plant and the only way to do this, was, and is, by staying well and truly watered and fertilised by Jesus himself. He is my source of strength. I listen to His voice and when the noise of the office grows loud, I retreat to my spiritual garden where He feeds me on love.

I guess that is what the Chinese Lanterns did that survived. They feed on good fertiliser. It works for me.

Down the south side of my house, I recently changed the plants in the garden bed. I took out some unattractive honeysuckles, which were buckling the arches that they were growing on, and planted a row of Red Robbins with some Camellias. This then allowed the sun to reach the ground and low and behold weeds quickly started to sprout all along the freshly turned dirt.

I looked out the window some days after my labour and saw all the valueless botanical growths and was discombobulated. I wanted to rush outside and pull them all out, but resisted. It was not gardening time and when I sat at my desk and began the weekly rosters, I realised that I had looked at my garden and focused only on the weeds.

I got up and had another look and this time paid attention to the plants. I saw the new leaves on the Red Robbins, which begin as a gorgeous deep red and the new tiny leaves sprouting on the Camellias and when I returned to my desk, I had a smile on my face.

So often we can focus on the things that we see wrong with us, instead of focusing on our growth, how God is changing us and taking us from glory to glory. My spiritual garden, like my natural garden is full of new growth, flowers and fruit. So I will endeavour to enjoy the blessings of God. God loves me and provides in abundance and even though there are weeds, there are delicate buds, sweet smelling blooms and strong shady trees to enjoy.

It is easy to roll with life, like the leaves blowing on a windy day, you can be tossed along and before you know it, time and events pass with barely a thoughtful decision. There is a problem with this approach to life however, and I am guilty, as I will explain. I admit my garden suffers the same fate with a splash of water, sometimes containing a dose of liquid fertiliser in it, and a quick prune of anything brown (that isn’t supposed to be brown) and then, nature takes its course - doesn’t it? Well yes, but I realise that that is not always a good thing. You see the other day I was doing just that, pulling off some dead leaves from my agapanthuses and saw a snail (and nothing like the cute picture). Now one might think that one snail is not a problem, but snails breed. My discovery led from one gastropod to another. I then fetched an empty ice cream container and stopped counting after I dropped the 60th in a growing bed of unhappy molluscs. I do believe that over the next few days I detached over a hundred from their leafy green hideaways. The point is that if we go along with the world, we can become infested without even realising. Are we keeping a check on our spiritual gardens or letting them become overrun by snails? I know for myself, I need to check for slimy negative thoughts that can grow into bitterness and resentment. I need to check that the decisions I am making, although seemingly small and insignificant, are based on the Word of God and His will for my life and not just a convenient or lazy choice. As Christians we can never afford to become complacent about little slimies that want to invade and take over, and they will, if left unattended. So I am regularly on the prowl for snails in my spiritual garden, and I also check for those in my natural garden and I must say my agapanthuses are glowing.